In Their Own Words: Compendium of Veterans' Quotes Against the =
Flag=20
Desecration AmendmentMarch 4, 2004

I fear the unintended =
consequences=20
of these 17 words and the laws that may be enacted later will be far =
worse than=20
the consequences of us witnessing the occasional and shocking and =
disgusting=20
desecration of this great symbol of liberty and freedom. =

Real patriotism cannot =
be coerced.=20
It must be a voluntary, unselfish, brave act to sacrifice for others. =
And when=20
Americans feel coercion especially from their government they tend to =
rebel. So=20
none of us should be surprised Mr. Chairman if one unintended =
consequence of the=20
laws that prohibit unpopular activity such as this is an actual increase =
in the=20
incidents of flag desecration.

U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey=20
(D-NE)Veteran of the =
elite Navy=20
SEAL Team, the Navy's version of the Green Berets, and is currently the =
only=20
member of Congress to have earned the Congressional Medal of Honor, =
America's=20
highest military honor.Excerpted=20
from testimony given before the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 28, =
1999=20

The Constitution is a =
document that=20
provides each citizen with broad rights. The right to assemble =
peacefully; the=20
right to speak and publish freely; the freedom to worship without =
interference;=20
freedom from unlawful search and seizure; freedom from slavery and =
involuntary=20
servitude; the right to vote. It is these freedoms that define what it =
means to=20
be an American.

In its more than 200 =
years, the=20
Constitution has been amended only 27 times -- one time was acknowledged =
a=20
mistake, and repealed. The amendments have reaffirmed and expanded =
individual=20
freedoms. This proposed Amendment would not expand the list of freedoms. =
This=20
Amendment for the first time would limit individual =
freedom.

U.S. Senator John H. Chaffee =
(R-RI)Veteran of the =
United=20
States Marine Corps who served in the original invasion forces at =
Guadalcanal=20
and commanded a rifle company in Korea.Excerpted from testimony given before the Senate Judiciary =
Committee on=20
April 28, 1999

As a Vietnam veteran who =
lives daily=20
with the consequences of my service to my country, and as the son of a =
WWII=20
combat veteran, and the grandson of a WWI combat veteran, I can attest =
to the=20
fact that not all veterans indeed perhaps most veterans do not wish to =
exchange=20
fought-for freedoms for protecting a tangible symbol of these freedoms. =
I oppose=20
this amendment because it does not support the freedom of expression and =
the=20
right to dissent.

Now, 31 years, 1 week =
and one day=20
following the loss of my legs in combat, I am again called upon to =
defend the=20
freedoms which my sacrifices in combat were said to preserve. It's been =
a long=20
31+ years. I have faced the vexing challenge of reconciling myself with =
the=20
reality of my military history and the lessons I have learned from it =
and the=20
popular portrayal of veterans as one dimensional patriots, whose =
patriotism MUST=20
take the form of intolerance, narrow-mindedness, euphemisms, and=20
reductionism-where death in combat is referred to as "making the =
ultimate=20
sacrifice" and the motivation for service and the definition of true =
patriotism=20
is reduced to dedication to a piece of cloth.

The strength of our =
nation is found=20
in its diversity. This strength was achieved through the exercise of our =
First=20
Amendment right to freedom of expression-no matter how repugnant or =
offensive=20
the expression might be. Achieving that strength has not been easy-it's =
been a=20
struggle, a struggle lived by some very important men in my life and me. =

I am offended when I see =
the flag=20
burned or treated disrespectfully. As offensive and painful as this is, =
I still=20
believe that those dissenting voices need to be heard. This country is =
unique=20
and special because the minority, the unpopular, the dissenters and the=20
downtrodden, also have a voice and are allowed to be heard in whatever =
way they=20
choose to express themselves that does not harm others. The freedom of=20
expression, even when it hurts, is the truest test of our dedication to =
the=20
belief that we have that right.

Free expression, =
especially the=20
right to dissent with the policies of the government, is one important =
element,=20
if not the cornerstone of our form of government that has greatly =
enhanced its=20
stability, prosperity, and strength of our country.

Freedom is what makes =
the United=20
States of America strong and great, and freedom, including the right to =
dissent,=20
is what has kept our democracy going for more than 200 years. And it is =
freedom=20
that will continue to keep it strong for my children and the children of =
all the=20
people like my father, late father in law, grandfather, brother, me, and =
others=20
like us who served honorably and proudly for freedom.

The pride and honor we =
feel is not=20
in the flag per se. It's in the principles that it stands for and the =
people who=20
have defended them. My pride and admiration is in our country, its =
people and=20
its fundamental principles. I am grateful for the many heroes of our =
country-and=20
especially those in my family. All the sacrifices of those who went =
before me=20
would be for naught, if an amendment were added to the Constitution that =
cut=20
back on our First Amendment rights for the first time in the history of =
our=20
great nation.

I love this country, its =
people and=20
what it stands for. The last thing I want to give the future generations =
are=20
fewer rights than I was privileged to have. My family and I served and =
fought=20
for others to have such freedoms and I am opposed to any actions which =
would=20
restrict my children and their children from having the same freedoms I=20
enjoy.

I volunteered to join =
the Navy at=20
the time in our nation's history that when there were innumerable =
vehement and=20
destructive protests and dissents against the Vietnam War. It was my =
choice to=20
join since my draft number was around 264. The protests occurring at =
college=20
campuses around the country including my own took many forms -- there =
were flag=20
burnings, draft card burnings, marches and sit-ins. These issues took on =
even=20
greater significance when, during the Spring of my first year of =
college,=20
students my own age were killed in anti-war protests at Kent State =
University.=20

In light of those =
events, I remember=20
being questioned and questioning myself about how I could morally =
reconcile my=20
decision to join the military given the dissenting voices and arguments =
put=20
forth by the anti-war protesters and my peers. The protesters caused me =
to=20
reflect upon my decision. I reflected on the loss of tens of thousands =
of=20
American lives fighting totalitarianism in a far off land and my =
decision to=20
participate in the military that carried out the war.

It was not easy, but it =
did help me=20
to think about what I was doing and more importantly - why!! =

I only had to look at my =
own oath to=20
get the answer:

"I ...... do solemnly =
swear that I=20
will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against =
all=20
enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and =
allegiance to the=20
same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation =
or=20
purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the =
duties of=20
the office on which I am about to enter, so help me =
God."

Ultimately, my =
responsibility was to=20
support and defend the protestors' under the First Amendment to the =
Constitution=20
to freely express their opinion, even if I disagreed with what they were =
saying.=20

So, it's the =
Constitution that I am=20
sworn to uphold. It would be wrong to take an oath to uphold the =
Constitution=20
and then to support a reduction in the rights granted under it. That's =
what I=20
did for my wife and daughter and every other American.

So, the pride and honor =
I feel is=20
not really in the flag per se. It's in the principles that it stands for =
and the=20
people who have defended them. My pride and admiration is in our =
country, its=20
people and its fundamental principles.

To this day, that pride =
and=20
admiration is what I feel each and every time I stand, face the flag, =
and come=20
to attention. I love this country, its people, and what it stands for. =
But all=20
the sacrifices of those who went before me would be for naught, if an =
amendment=20
were added to the Constitution that cut back on our First Amendment =
rights for=20
the first time in the history of our great nation. After all, our nation =
was=20
born out of political dissent. The last thing that I want to give the =
future=20
generations, like my daughter and her children, are less rights than I =
was=20
privileged to have. I fought for others to have such freedoms and am =
opposed to=20
any actions which would restrict my child and her children from having =
the same=20
freedoms I enjoy.

I can safely speak for =
my four=20
brothers Donald, William, Lanceford, Paul and myself -- all veterans of =
the=20
second World War -- when I say one of the basic freedoms for which we =
served is=20
that of free speech. Do not let anyone use the flag under which we =
served as an=20
instrument to abridge our constitutional rights.

Richard =
SoulsbyVista, California

When I volunteered for =
service, I=20
took an oath to defend and preserve the Constitution of the United =
States. I=20
still feel bound by that oath.

During basic training, =
the Army made=20
sure that all soldiers were taught military courtesy, including proper =
ways to=20
show respect for the flag. The word "courtesy" was used because we took =
no oath=20
of loyalty to the flag, and we certainly were not required to to regard =
the flag=20
as a sacred object in and of itself. The Flag Code, saluting the flag, =
and=20
showing proper respect to the flag were ways of demonstrating our =
respect for=20
the ideas that the flag symbolizes.

My understanding of what =
our nation=20
and Constitution stand for gives me strong faith in the principles =
embodied in=20
the Bill of Rights. That includes the right of people with whom I =
disagree to=20
demonstrate openly, to protest, to struggle peaceably for what they =
believe to=20
be right. My faith in the Bill of Rights is so strong that I must =
support the=20
right of others to protest in any way that does not deprive others of =
their=20
rights. If I were to fail to support te right to protest, I would also =
fail in=20
my duty to support the Constitution. My religious faith includes the =
commandment=20
"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." The U.S. flag is not a sacred =
object.=20
No act of law, and no change in the Constitution, can make it so: God, =
and God=20
alone, is sacred. Any law, any constitutional amendment that would call =
a flag=20
so sacred that to harm it would be sacrilege would be an insult to my =
deepest=20
religious beliefs. It would be a form of forcing me to worship a strange =
god,=20
and thus violate what I take to be God's Commandments.

Michael Salovesh, veteran of =
the Korean=20
warDe Kalb, =
Illinois

I am a 47 year old, =
Noncommissioned=20
Officer with 25 years of service between Active Service and Reserve =
Component=20
Service. I never smoked a day in my life, yet I got cancer of the =
tongue, neck=20
and throat from my constant exposure to toxic munitions and explosives.=20

In all of my years of =
service, I=20
never once disrespected the American flag, permitted anyone to =
disrespect, or=20
allowed the desecration of the American flag anywhere that I served. I =
was often=20
the Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge of the flag detail, to raise and =
lower the=20
flag on installations around the world, large and small. =

It always gave me great =
joy to see=20
our flag raised by my service men and women on holidays. This was =
especially=20
true on the Fourth of July, Independence Day, when we always raised an =
enormous=20
Garrison flag that was, to me, a smiling ray of sunshine and a thing of =
beauty=20
that represented our ideals of freedom, basic human independence and =
equality=20
for all.

I hated to see other =
repressive=20
dissidents burn our flag during my years of service in places such as =
Iran, when=20
the American diplomats were taken hostage during the Carter =
Administration and=20
in Iraq during Desert Storm. It really hurt my heart.

As much as I despise the =
act, to=20
have Congress pass a constitutional amendment to prevent desecration of =
the flag=20
is an insult to the American freedom, independence, righteousness, free=20
expression of our freedoms and glory that it flies for and represents. =
It is the=20
ideals that the flag represents that should be guarded forever, =
including the=20
freedom to fly it or not to fly it, according to the Constitution and =
Bill of=20
Rights. To pas this amendment against flag desecration would be the =
first step=20
to the United States to becoming a repressive government diminishing the =
freedoms of speech and other basic rights of the American=20
people.

Robert E. Flock =
Staff Sergeant, United States Army=20
(retired)

I am a Vietnam Veteran =
and retiree=20
from the USAF and have recently been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, =
and=20
incurable bone marrow cancer. Chances are very good that my disease was=20
triggered while serving in Southeast Asia.

As a veteran I view and =
treat our=20
flag with the greatest respect and as a symbol of the sacrifices that so =
many=20
veterans have made in the defense of our country in so many wars and =
conflicts.=20
As such, it disturbs me to se this symbols desecrated in ANY manner =
(even=20
wearing it on clothing).

In spite of my own =
beliefs and=20
feelings about the subject, I do not wish to force them upon others, and =
I=20
deeply resent our elected leaders forcing it upon the nation. I would be =
curious=20
to see how many of those said leaders ever served their country in the =
military.=20

It is my belief that our =
leaders=20
have lost complete contact with the people and are trying their best to =
erode=20
what freedoms we have left.

As much as I am =
personally opposed=20
to acts of flag desecration, I am WHOLLY OPPOSED to Congress passing any =
laws=20
abridging any rights of the citizens of the United States! A law that =
takes away=20
the rights of the people to express themselves would be a far worse =
crime=20
against this country than the loss of a flag due to desecration.=20

I volunteered to serve =
my country=20
and served it well during that time. I have spent many months living on =
a=20
submarine, underwater and overseas, under conditions deemed 'cruel and =
unusual=20
punishment' for convicts, in order to try to protect the rights of all =
the=20
citizens of this country. To have a law passed that effectively disables =
the=20
First Amendment would be a slap in the face to me and to everyone else =
who has=20
donated part or all of their life to preserving these =
freedoms.

I am a veteran of the =
U.S. Armed=20
Forces, a person who spent two years training to be an officer at the =
united=20
States Naval Academy. I have a hard time believing that there is anyone =
in this=20
fine country as patriotic as I am. I grew up reading books about =
military and=20
naval heroes, spent years trying to get into the Naval academy, and =
still=20
continue to feel as though my true goal in life is to be laid to rest at =
Arlington National Cemetery.

However strongly I feel =
about my=20
nation's flag, I cannot bear the desecration of our Constitution that =
such an=20
amendment would cause. I am strongly against the desecration of any =
object of=20
national importance, but I also cannot mock the First Amendment by =
taking away=20
our nation's constitutional right to do so. That flag has such meaning, =
but the=20
meaning behind the flag is the greatness of our country. Passing a=20
constitutional amendment banning flag desecration would lead this nation =
down a=20
slippery slope until all freedoms are regulated and =
amended.

Annemarie =
SpadaforeElyria, Ohio

As a Veteran of the =
Armed Forces, I=20
have represented our flag and country both abroad and at home. I feel =
that this=20
is an attack on our constitutional right to free speech. We are entering =
a=20
dangerous area when we start changing our constitution on emotions. The =
sheer=20
fact that people get very upset when they see a flag being burned is =
testament=20
to the power of free speech, and political opposition. This country =
should try=20
to protect people's right of free speech instead of trying to limit it =
more and=20
more each day.

Please don't let your =
country become=20
one that heads towards a police state by slowly tearing at the very =
rights that=20
set us apart and atop the rest of the world.

Mr. Nathan S. =
OsbornRaleigh, North Carolina

If the constitutional =
amendment=20
against flag-burning passes, I will no longer use our flag as a symbol =
of our=20
freedom. I will show my respect in other ways because my flag will have =
lost its=20
meaning for me. And I will turn in my flag, with all respect due to it =
(and to=20
him), to Sen. Orrin Hatch. He is one man I sincerely respect and admire =
and=20
honor for all he has done for the American people. However, I cannot see =
that=20
the coercion of loyalty is more important than the freedom to choose and =
the=20
freedom to voice our protest. Finally, I am able to choose. And I=20
protest.

Doug Brown, veteran of the =
Vietnam=20
warSalt Lake City,=20
Utah(Excerpted from =
an op-ed=20
originally published in the Salt Lake Tribune on November 21, =
1997)

I share the feelings =
that gave birth=20
to the (flag) amendment; seeing our flag desecrated makes me angry. But =
our=20
angry reaction is the point: it illustrates the power of flag =
desecration as=20
symbolic speech. It is a most powerful way for someone to tell us thy =
believe we=20
are doing something wrong, that we are not living up to our ideals.=20

I spent 30 years on =
active duty in=20
the U.S. Army and believe strongly in our country and the principles on =
which it=20
was founded. Preeminent among these are the freedoms of speech and =
expression.=20
The United States has never done something that would drive me to =
desecrate a=20
flag to express my opposition, but I believe we must preserve a =
citizen's right=20
to express his or her political views in this way.

Before approving the =
amendment,=20
Congress should reflect that many political and social changes, the =
justice and=20
morality of which we take for granted, were initiated by people whose =
sense of=20
outrage was not initially shared by most of their fellow citizens. Our =
national=20
ideals were articulated in the Declaration and the Constitution, but =
they were=20
only achieved through rough and tumble political conflict. It is =
possible that=20
some will use this form of protest for trivial purposes, but there is no =
requirement that free men and women exercise their freedoms only in ways =
the=20
majority would approve.

If this amendment is =
passed and=20
ratified, the government and the power of a majority will deprive =
dissident=20
voices of a powerful means of speech and expression, but we will all be =
less=20
free. We can learn to tolerate the anger and discomfort that flag =
desecration=20
provokes and take time to reflect that it is a small price to pay to =
safeguard=20
the freedoms of speech and expression that so few people enjoy in our =
measure.=20

Mike Pheneger, Colonel - =
United States=20
Army (Retired)Originally=20
published in the Tampa Tribune on July 2, 1998

As a veteran of Beirut, =
Panama &=20
Desert Storm, I feel very strongly about our flag and what it stands =
for. I am=20
permanently disabled as a direct result of my 15 years of service to our =
country. I feel that our flag "Old Glory" stands for FREEDOM, JUSTICE =
&=20
LIBERTY. It also symbolizes the BLOOD SPILLED by American service men =
and women=20
who gave so much to protect it and what it stands for.

Though many of my =
colleagues and=20
friends died, and were injured or wounded in action, they really were =
not=20
wounded for it, the flag, but rather for it, Liberty and what the flag =
stands=20
for. In reality it is really just a symbol of that sacrifice and more=20
importantly, our American ideals. Therefore, I am writing in opposition =
to the=20
proposed constitutional amendment to outlaw desecration of the flag. =
This=20
legislation, SJ Res. 40, is an unnecessary intrusion of our civil =
liberties.=20

During my years as a =
Paratrooper=20
& Special Forces "Green Beret" I had the opportunity, to travel to, =
and be=20
involved with several countries with evil, oppressive governments. =
Governments,=20
where the peoples civil rights were often abridged, or did not exist at =
all. I=20
swore then that I would never live in a country, where the symbol of the =
government, became more important than the peoples rights to live free =
under=20
that government. I feel that the right to protest & political =
expression, no=20
matter how stupid or offensive it may be to the majority, must be =
allowed, as=20
long as it is peaceful.

This flag amendment will =
place a=20
higher value on an inanimate object, a symbol, than the rights of the =
people=20
living under it. The Constitution and especially the Bill of Rights, =
gave=20
protection to "We The People." Flags, no matter how honored, do not have =
rights,=20
people do, please protect them.

Any country that places =
an inanimate=20
object, over its people has no real liberty. If this amendment passes, I =
feel=20
flag burning will become a common form of protest against this =
ill-conceived=20
policy.

As a true conservative, =
I ask you,=20
when did it become conservative policy to recommend several changes to =
the=20
Constitution? My brand of Conservatism does not include this doctrine. =
You need=20
to help enforce the existing laws. Strengthen them as necessary, get rid =
of the=20
stupid ones, and stop making new ones. I feel you have better things to =
do with=20
your time & our tax dollars, than changing the constitution, for =
something=20
that rarely occurs and is typically done by immature idiots. Please do =
not=20
support this bill. Thank you.

I am a veteran, wounded =
in combat in=20
World War II. The veterans of the Revolutionary War fought to overthrow =
tyranny=20
and establish freedom. They did not fight to protect a piece of cloth =
which=20
merely symbolizes our free nation. The founding fathers added to our=20
Constitution a Bill of Rights, which ensures the preservation of our =
hard-won=20
freedoms. The flag desecration amendment would only dishonor our =
ancestors'=20
struggle for freedom of speech by abridging that =
freedom.

John =
RutherfordExcerpted from Letter to the Editor =
published in=20
the San Francisco Chronicle on July 1, 1998San Francisco, California

As a combat veteran of =
the United=20
States Army in 1968, I know it is wrong to burn the American flag. As an =
American in 1998, I know it is infinitely more wrong for our government =
to=20
suppress free expression.

The only possible =
purpose for=20
physical desecration of the U.S. flag is protest. Our citizens must be =
free to=20
protest and our government must be strong enough and freedom-minded =
enough to=20
allow such protest. The reason I felt obligated to serve in the military =
was my=20
belief in freedom in this county, including the freedom to protest by =
burning=20
the American flag. A truly free country has nothing to fear from free =
speech,=20
including the physical desecration of a symbol of =
freedom.

While I have not =
researched the laws=20
of Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia, I am confident that it was illegal =
to burn=20
the swastika and the communist flag in those countries. Both of those=20
prohibitions were wrong, and it is just as wrong to limit free speech=20
here.

If you make it illegal =
to express=20
free speech by burning the flag, you might as well make it illegal to =
express=20
free speech by flying the flag. Is there really any difference between =
these=20
rights?

Mike SmithLaGrange, Georgia

As a combat veteran who =
experienced=20
much of the 'hell' that is war, I am despondent and angry that the =
Senate is=20
seriously considering the desecration of our Constitution and its Bill =
of=20
Rights.

Of course our flag =
represents to me=20
and most vets, a revered symbol. The 'flag-burning' amendment, however, =
is a=20
cowardly surrender to popular, unthinking, sanctimonious and counterfeit =
patriotism.

No government, not the =
German Nazis,=20
the Japanese Imperialists, the Russian Stalinists, the Italian Fascists, =
or the=20
Cuban Communists, have or had any objection to safe, patriotic speech. =
Safe=20
speech needs no guarantees of freedom, no Constitutional=20
protection.

The more unpopular, the =
more=20
repugnant and revolting the speech, the more needed is the First =
Amendment=20
protection. Virtually all of the Founding Fathers faced prison or worse =
because=20
the government of the time found their speech to be offensive. They knew =
from=20
first-hand experience how essential was the protection of even the most=20
abhorrent and controversial of political speeches or actions. =

Just as I would not =
listen to some=20
offensive speech, I would not watch something as loathsome as the =
desecration of=20
'Old Glory'. But I'd turn away and, if necessary, defend the right of =
any of us=20
to be considered politically obnoxious or repugnant.

Shortly after the July =
4th holiday,=20
the Senate may consider emasculating the Constitution by allowing some =
'safe'=20
forms of political speech, but jailing persons whose speech may be =
deemed=20
offensive to our patriotic symbols.

We veterans took an oath =
to protect=20
our Constitution from all enemies. Who would have thought that the =
United States=20
Congress could be an enemy threatening our freedom?

Tom E. MosesHarpers Ferry, West =
Virginia

Our nation was not =
founded on=20
devotion to symbolic idols, but on principles, beliefs and ideals =
expressed in=20
the Constitution and its Bill of Rights. American veterans who have =
protected=20
our banner in battle have not done so to protect a "golden calf." =
Instead, they=20
carried the banner forward with reverence for what it represents - our =
beliefs=20
and freedom for all. Therein lies the beauty of our =
flag.

Keith A. Kreul, US Army =
Veteran and Past=20
National Commander, The American Legion(Excerpted from an op-ed originally published in the Leader =
Newspapers,=20
Lyndhurst, NJ on June 11, 1998)

In March of 1973, when =
we were=20
released from a prisoner of war camp in North Vietnam, we were flown to =
Clark=20
Air Force base in the Philippines. As I stepped out of the aircraft I =
looked up=20
and saw the flag. I caught my breath, then, as tears filled my eyes, I =
saluted=20
it. I never loved my country more than at that moment. Although I have =
received=20
the Silver Star Medal and two Purple Hearts, they were nothing compared =
with the=20
gratitude I felt then for having been allowed to serve the cause of=20
freedom.

Because the mere sight =
of the flag=20
meant so much to me when I saw it for the first time after five and a =
half=20
years, it hurts me to see other Americans willfully desecrate it. But I =
have=20
been in a Communist prison where I looked into the pit of hell. I cannot =
compromise with those who want to punish the flag burners. Let me =
explain=20
myself.

Early in the =
imprisonment, the=20
Communists told us that we did not have to stay there. If we would only =
admit=20
that we were wrong, if we would only apologize, we could be released =
early. If=20
we did not, we would be punished. A handful accepted, most did not. In =
our=20
minds, early release under those conditions would amount to a betrayal, =
of our=20
comrades, of our country and of our flag.

Because we would not say =
the words=20
they wanted us to say, they made our lives wretched. Most of us were =
tortured=20
and some of my comrades died. I was tortured for most of the summer of =
1969. I=20
developed beriberi from malnutrition. I had long bouts of dysentery. I =
was=20
infested with intestinal parasites. I spent thirteen months in solitary=20
confinement. Was our cause worth all of this? Yes, it was worth all this =
and=20
more.

I remember one =
interrogation where I=20
was shown a photograph of some Americans protesting the war by burning a =
flag.=20
"There," the officer said. "People in your country protest against your =
cause.=20
That proves you are wrong."

"No," I said. "That =
proves that I am=20
right. In my country we are not afraid of freedom, even if it means that =
people=20
disagree with us." The officer was on his feet in an instant, his face =
purple=20
with rage. He smashed his fist onto the table and screamed at me to shut =
up.=20
While he was ranting I was astonished to see pain, compounded by fear, =
in his=20
eyes. I have never forgotten that look, nor have I forgotten the =
satisfaction I=20
felt at using his tool, the picture of the burning flag, against=20
him.

We don't need to amend =
the=20
Constitution in order to punish those who burn our flag. They burn the =
flag=20
because they hate America and they are afraid of freedom. What better =
way to=20
hurt them than with the subversive idea of freedom? Spread freedom.... =
Don't be=20
afraid of freedom.

James H. Warner, who had =
been imprisoned=20
by the North Vietnamese from 1967 to 1973(Excerpted from: Hentoff, Nat, Free =
Speech for Me=20
- But Not for Thee: How the American Left and Right Relentlessly Censor =
Each=20
Other, HarperCollins, 1992, pp. 238-239.)

It is important that =
there be=20
respect for our nation's flag. However, the flag is symbolic, whereas =
the right=20
to express one's self under the right of freedom of speech is genuine =
and real.=20
It should not now be altered.

Respect for the flag =
must be=20
obtained by education, not by passage of laws. The respect that the flag =
deserves cannot be instilled in people by the passage of laws that the =
proposed=20
flag amendment would permit.

Where does Congress stop =
when it=20
starts gutting the freedoms and rights guaranteed to all citizens by the =
Bill of=20
Rights? All war veterans fought to preserve these rights. Passage of the =
flag=20
amendment is a first step in limiting the freedoms guaranteed by the =
Bill of=20
Rights.

Frank Foughty, a Marine =
veteran who=20
fought in the Battle of OkinawaNorth Dakota(Excerpted=20
from an op-ed originally published in the Grand Forks Herald on November =
6,=20
1995)

I, too, am deeply =
dismayed and=20
saddened by the support of most veterans' groups for Sen. Orrin Hatch's=20
flag-protection amendment. I admit that I was angry the first time I saw =
the=20
flag burning, but then I realized how privileged we are to live in a =
country=20
where people have the freedom to protest, and, in fact, the flag-burner =
did=20
nothing to anyone except offend sensibilities. Protesters only burn the =
flag to=20
get attention. To make it a special exception to the First Amendment =
will only=20
make it a more attractive form of protest. The flag issue has been an=20
interesting topic of discussion, but it is time to move =
on.

I just wanted Lisa =
Hendrickson to=20
know that not all veterans are emotionally blind to the significance of =
our=20
constitutional freedoms.

Glade E. =
ShepardSandy, Utah(Excerpted from an op-ed originally =
published in=20
the Salt Lake Tribune on January 5, 1996)

I am a war veteran (four =
years in=20
the Marines and a supervisor of the battle for Iwo Jima) and I love my =
country.=20
But I believe that this idea of passing a constitutional amendment to =
forbid the=20
desecration of our flag is a dumb idea. Is the purpose to force people =
to be=20
patriotic by passing a law? Why try to take away a freedom of =
expression? Is it=20
a means of pandering for votes from veterans =
organizations?

Don W. =
BennionSalt Lake City, Utah(Excerpted from an op-ed originally =
published in=20
the Salt Lake Tribune on September 17, 1996)

I am a veteran. I served =
proudly in=20
the Air Force for over seven years and served in combat position in =
Desert=20
Storm. I consider myself to be a patriotic person. Always have. I =
dislike=20
flag-burning, but I would never support a ban on it.

Flag-burning is not a =
new=20
phenomenon. It has occurred for centuries, just as conducting burnings =
in=20
effigy. The Founders knew of these forms of expression, yet they totally =
ignored=20
any mention, in any way, of either. They were smarter than people today. =
They=20
had more respect for, and understanding of the importance of, the =
Constitution=20
than people do today. Today, people tend to see something they disagree =
with and=20
immediately look at an amendment to the Constitution as a means of=20
``correcting'' the wrong they perceive.

That is not the country =
nor the=20
Constitution I was sworn to protect and serve (no mention of a flag), =
and it is=20
not one I would ever serve in the future. Frivolous amendments would =
make the=20
Constitution (and the people behind it) a mockery, a false image of what =
it once=20
was and was supposed to be. Such would not be what I took an oath to =
protect and=20
defend.

Patrick =
O'NeilSalt Lake City, Utah

I served in Vietnam in =
1968, but=20
this fact does not make me more patriotic than anyone else and it does =
not allow=20
me to cast aspersions on anyone else's patriotism. I will go to my grave =
believing my service, and the service and sacrifices of my comrades, was =
to the=20
ideals held forth in the Constitution. If that means I must continue to=20
tolerate, even protect the rights of people and beliefs that are =
repellent to my=20
very soul, then so be it. It is a cheap price to pay for my=20
freedom.

Len DenneyHouston, Texas(Excerpted from an op-ed originally =
published in=20
the Houston Chronicle on February 28, 1998)

I am an eight-year =
military veteran=20
that takes exception to being called a liberal purely because I support =
the=20
right to burn the U.S. flag. The Stars and Stripes should be above =
manipulation,=20
but the warmongers have co-opted the standard. Therefore, burning the =
symbol is=20
a legitimate antiwar expression.

John KingHouston, Texas(Excerpted from an op-ed originally =
published in=20
the Houston Chronicle on February 28, 1998)

=A9 ACLU, 125 Broad Street, =
18th Floor New=20
York, NY 10004 This is the Web site of the American Civil =
Liberties Union=20
and the ACLU Foundation.Learn=20
more about the distinction between these two components of the =
ACLU.